Piston



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. POORB.

PISTON.

No. 394,295. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

W tnesses: v [12 wanton G: CZ v flaza My n. PEYERS. mammnm Wm EC 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

PISTON.

No. 394,295.- Patented Dec. 11, 188 8.

Inventor:

JMM

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC TOIVNSEND POORE, OFSORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

PISTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'394,295, dated December11, 1888. Application filed April 23, 1888. Serial No.- 271,585. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I; TOWNSEND PooRE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPistons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in a novel and improved construction of a piston,whereby a continuous and uniform lubrication is obtained in a pistonwhile being worked under very high pressure.

My invention is of essential value in mining-pumps which have to liftwater to very great elevations and which are worked at a very high rateof speed. The old plungerpum'ps do very good service at a moderatespeed; but at a comparatively high speed the inertia of the heavyplungers and connections reciprocating with the same have a very badeffect upon the working machinery and necessitate frequent repair. Theordinary packed piston, being much lighter than the plunger, can beoperated without the aforesaid difiiculties; but its lubrication undermodes and constructions as heretofore under heavy pressure has provedinadequate to the requirements, and the wear of piston and cylinder hasbeen very considerable, not only on account of dry friction, but also onaccount of contact with sulphur waters lifted from mines, which areusually of a highly-corroding nature. Therefore, the piston packing andcylinder, when used for mining purposes, will work most successfullywhen the segmental or sector packing is made of wood segmental blocksand adjustable by a stiff split springring, or by a more yielding splitspringring and set-screws, and is seated upon an india-rubber or similarelastic band, and cushioned by one or more india-rubber or similarelastic gaskets, and provided with receptacles filled with a solidifiedor nearly solidified lubricant,wh.ich retains a fixed form, constitutesa part of said packing, and is adjustable with it, so as to be suppliedjust in proportion as the packing wears down, said rubber seatband,rubber, cushioning gasket or gaskets, and solid lubricant'insuring thepistons working water-tight in the cylinder, and also serving to protectthe piston while subjected to undue strain and concussions, and actingat all times as a seal against the entrance of corroding water into thebody of the piston,thus saving its interior parts and rendering frequentrepairs unnecessary; but while the piston for mine-pumps works best withsolid lubricant, it will, if made without receptacles for suchlubricant, but otherwise constructed as above mentioned, be veryenduring and useful in other relations.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view ofahorizontally-arranged piston, illustrating one mode of using myinvention, two rows or circles of segmental packingblocks being shown.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the packing, follower, andconfining-nut of the same. Fig. 3 is an end View of the same, theconfining-nut, follower, and cushioning-gasket being removed. Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 1, the receptacles for solidified lubricant beingomitted and cushioning-gaskets being applied between the flange-plateand follower, as well as between the two rows or circles of segmental orsector packing-blocks. Fig. 5 is end view of the piston with theconfining-nut and follower re moved, the cushioning-gasket being inplace, this view illustrating a stiff split spring for adjusting orexpanding the packing, the setscrews and their connections beingomitted. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but showing one row orcircle of segmental packingblocks, and cushioning-gaskets between theblocks, flange-plate, and.follower of the piston. Fig. 7 is a similarview to 2 of the piston shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view toFig. 3 of the piston shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 9 is a similar view toFig. 5 of the piston shown in Fig. 6, the spring being stiffened and theset-screws and their connections omitted, as in Fig 5. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 1, A B represent thepiston-head; G, the follower; A, the piston-rod, and A the screw end forreceiving a confining-nut, A

D D are two rows or circles of segmental packing-blocks formed withangular ends, as at g.

E is an india-rubber or other elastic seatband, upon which the segmentalpackin piston-head and between the flange-plate B- and follower C, asshown, it being of the same external diameter as the internal diameterof the seat-band E and about as broad as said seat-band.

Z) Z) are set-screws provided with segmental foot-plates h, resting onthe hub portion A of the piston-head, and movable segmental head- Theband E may be perforated at f,

pieces (7, fitted loosely on the outer ends of the screws, andoperating-nuts c and jam-nuts c, as shown.

a represents deep receptacles formed in the periphery of the segmentalpacking-blocks, and a solidified or nearly solid lubricant placed firmlyin said receptacles, so as to be adj usted outward with the said blockby the action of the set-screws, and thus always be in contact with thecylinder of the pump and lubricate it and the piston.

G G G are india-rubber cushioning and sealing gaskets placed,respectively, between the two rows or circles of packing-blocks, andbetween said blocks and the flange-plate and follower of the piston, asshown in Fig. 4C, or only between the said rows or circles of blocks, asshown in Figs; 1 and 2; or, as when a single row of such blocks is used,placed between the flange-plate B and the blocks and between thefollower and the blocks, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The cushioninggaskets are respectively as broad as the distance between theindia-rubber seat-band E and the periphery of the rings ofpacking-blocks, and are thick enough to form a yielding cushion be tweenthe two rows of blocks or yielding cushion between said blocksthemselves and the blocks and flange-plate and follower of the piston,accordingly as they may be used. Ordinarily one cushioning gasket placedbetween two rows or circles of packing-blocks is sufficient; but theother two (shown in Fig. 4) may be employed to seal the joints betweenthe flange-plate B and the blocks and the follower and the blocks. So,also, one gasket may be placed either between the follower C and theblocks or the flange-plate and the blocks when one circle or row ofpackingblocks is used; but I prefer to use two gaskets, as shown in Fig.(5, so as to more effectually seal the joints against the entrance ofcorroding water or substances into the piston.

In Figs. 5 and 9 I have shown the split spring F stiffened and employedseparately from the set-screws for adjusting or expanding thepacking-blocks. This construction would answer for a twelve-inchcylinder if the spring is one-half inch thick or more on one side andthree-sixteenths of an inch on the other and tapered, as shown. Thespring for use with the set-screws is made of uniform thicknessthroughoutsay one-fourth of an inch thick.

To adjust or expand the circle or circles of packing formed of blocks 1)D, and along with the same the lubricant a, the nuts 0 are turned so asto move the head-pieces (Z outc rd radially and cause them to pressforcibly against the inside of the spring F, and

thereby expand said spring and cause it to expand the seat-band E, andin turn the circle or circles of packing-blocks. The same action uponthe seat-band E and the ring or rings of packin g-blocks follows whenthe spring alone, as in Figs. 5 and 9, is adopted for making theadjustment mentioned; but in the latter case the adjustment takes placeautomatically and simultaneously with the wearing down of the packingand solid lubricant. In fitting the setscrews b to the piston theirlower ends may be set in sockets cut into the hub portion A of thepiston-head and the plate h dispensed with; but it is more convenientfor insertion and removal to have the screws set intosegmental-packing-plates, as shown.

The piston herein described, and shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,-by havingthe elastic seatband E is sealed tight at the joints between thefollower and flange-plate and the packingblocks, and whentwo circles orrows of packing-blocks are employed said seat-band E and thecushioning-gasket G between said rows or circles of blocks also seal thejoint where the gasket is located, thereby excluding the corrodingmine-water from the interior parts of the piston and thus saving thesame from rapid destruction and avoiding frequent withdrawal of thepiston for repairs on account of leakage and imperfect fitting of thepacking, the cushioning-gasket also allowing the piston itself to yield,so as to (void injuries often experienced from the binding of thepacking-blocks, due either to the swelling of the wooden segments underthe action of water or to the increase of the diameter of thepiston-packing by reason of the great resistance or pressure to which itis subjected while operating. By providing the wooden packing-blockswith lubricating material, as a, which is of a suitable consistencyto're main in nearly a fixed form and lubricate between the piston andcylinder by mere contact or abrasion as fast as the packing andlubricant wear down, and also providing for automatic or hand adjustmentof both the packing and lubricant, very important benefits are secured.The lubricant is best for ordinary purposes when of the consistency oftallow or beeswax, and it preferably may be of simple substancessuch astallow, beeswax, and the like or it may be of suitable known compoundshaving a fixed well-known melting-point; or the lubricant may beplumbago. By making the segmental packingblocks of some durablesubstance permeable to greaseas, for instance, durable wood--' thepacking is not liable to corrosion from mine-water, while it is capable,on account of its texture, of being impregnated during its manufacturewith a waterproofing lubricant additional to the fixed lubricant placedin the holes a.

In actual practice the lubricant in a fixed form and made adjustablewith the packingblocks has been found abundantly sufficient forlubricating the piston and cylinder, and by using said lubricant inconnection with the .india-rubber seat-bandE and the cushioning gasketor gaskets G G water is effectually excluded from the interior of thepiston. Thus a piston is provided which, in a high degree, is proofexternally and internally against the attacks of corrosive waters, andwill therefore wear very slowly, without much liability of.

leakage or getting rapidly out of working condition, and while this isso the cylinder is kept constantly coated with a protectingfilm oflubricating substance not fully dissolved, and is thus well guardedagainst undue wear and corrosion. 7

Numerous experiments have been tried in order to effectually lubricatepumps used in mines and worked at high speed; but they have not provedsatisfactory, because liquid lubricants have not yet been found topossess enough adhesion to resist a great pressure without giving wayand exposing the metals to the corroding waters, and, besides this, theold constructions of pistons have not been found to answer for thispurpose.

It has been found by experimenting with my invention that a pumphavingan ordinary piston which had to be inspected and repaired everythird or fourth'day on being supplied with one of my improved pistonswas found to work serviceably and steadily by day and night for ninemonths with a pressure of a column of water three hundred andseventyfive feet high, and when examined was found in good workingcondition as to both piston and cylinder.

I contemplate modifying the piston described by employing ordinaryfollower-bolts instead of the single nut A and screw A as shown; also bydispensing, in some cases withthe elastic seat-ring Eas, for instance,when the elastic gaskets G G are used-at joints between follower andflange-plate of the piston and the packing-blocks, as in Fig. ,6, orboth at said joints, and between the rows or circles of packing-blocks,as in Fig. 4; also, by leaving off in some cases the cushioninggasket G;also,'by making deep zigzag channels or grooves for holding the solidlubricant, as indicated in dotted lines at a in Figs. 1 and 6, saidgrooves either unitingv with holes or being continuous; or by dispensingwith holes or grooves, as in Fig. 4, in which case I prefer to usepacking-blocks D, made of a compound consisting, in proper proportions,of substances such as sulphur, plumbago, and tallow,'niixed so as to bein a against said spring and bearing with its edges against the followerand flange-plate of the piston, and rigid radially separated or dividedsegmental packing-blocks D, bearing against said band, all arrangedbetween the flangeplate and the follower of the piston, substantially asdescribed.

2. A piston constructed with a follower and flange-plate, which excludeswater and vapor and comprising a split or cut packing-spring, F, rigidradially separated or divided segmental packing-blocks D, an elasticcushioning water excluding gasket, G, and elastic band E, the saidgasket G extending from the base of the blocks to their periphery, whilethe said band rests on the spring and bears against the gasket andblocks against the follower and flange of the piston, all arrangedbetween the flange-plate and follower of the piston-head, substantiallyas described.

3. A piston constructed with a water and vapor excluding flan ge-plateand follower and comprising a split or cut packing-spring, elasticwater-excluding band E, bearing with its edges against the flange andfollower of the piston, and rigid radially divided or separatedsegmental packing-blocks D, provided with receptacles a in theirperipherybetween their faces for solidified lubricant, all arrangedbetween the flange-plate and followerof the piston-head, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

4. A piston constructed with a water and vapor excluding flan ge-plateand follower and comprising a split or cut packing-spring, F, elasticband E, bearing with its edges against the flange and follower of thepiston, elastic cushioning-gasket G, said band resting on the spring andthe gasket resting upon it, and rigid radially divided or separatedsegmental packing-blocks D, provided with receptacles a for solidifiedlubricant, said blocks resting on the band, and having their radialjoints at the sides closed by the gasket and at the bases by the band,all arranged between the flange-plate and follower of the piston-head,substantially as described.

5. A piston comprising a flange-plate and follower, which excludes waterand vapor, and rigid radially divided or separated segmentalpacking-blocks D, having lubricant-receptacles a for solidifiedlubricant, elastic cushioning-gasket G between the flat surfaces of therows or circles of said blocks, and elastic water-excluding bands E,bearing against the flange and follower of thepiston, and packing-springF, all arranged between the flangeplate and follower of the piston-head.I

6. The piston comprising a water and vapor excludin flange-plate andfollower, separated rows or circles of rigid radially divided orseparated segm ental packing-blocks D, elastic cushioning andwater-excluding gasket G between the inner flat surfaces of theseparated rows or circles of said blocks, the elastic water-excludingband E, and split or cut packing-spring F, said band bearing against theflange and follower of the piston and resting on the spring, and it andthe gasket bearing against one another and closing the radial jointsbetween the blocks, all arranged between the flange-plate and followerof the piston-head, substantially described.

7-. The piston comprising a water and vapor excluding flange-plate andfollower, radially divided or separated segmental packingblocks D, thepacking-spring F, elastic cushioning-gasket G, and set-screws b,provided with radially-sliding plates (1, foot-plates h, and nuts 0,said plates cl bearing against the interposed spring F, and said blocksD being constructed of rigid material and resting upon a yieldingfoundation, all arranged between the flange-plate and follower of thepistonhead, substantially as described. I

8. The piston comprising a water and vapor excluding flange-plate andfollower, radially divided or separated segmental packing blocks D, the,split or cut packing-spring F, elastic band E, elastic cushioning-gasketG, and set-screws provided with plates cl and nuts 0, said springbearing against said band, said gasket resting upon said band, and thegasket and band closing the radial joints between the packing-blocks,and said sliding plates being loose on the screws and bearing againstthe interposed spring, and said blocks being constructed of rigidmaterial and resting on a yielding foundation-head, all arranged betweenthe flange-plate and follower of the piston, substantially as described.

9. The piston comprising a water and vapor excluding flange-plate andfollower, radially divided or separated segmental packingblocks D,having receptacles a for solidified lubricant, the packing-spring F,elastic cushioning-gasket G, elastic band E, and setscrews 17, provided.with plates (Z and nuts 0, and said plates bearing against theinterposed spring, and said packing-blocks being constructed of rigidmaterial, all arranged between the flange-plate and follower of thepiston-head, substantially as described.

10. The piston comprising a water and yapor excluding flange-plate andfollower, radially divided or separated segmental packing-blocks D,having receptacles a for solidified lubricant, the split or cutpacking-spring F, elastic band E, and set-screws I), provided withplates d, foot-plates h, and nuts 0, said band bearing against thepacking-blocks and the spring, andthe said plates 01 hearing against theinterposed packing-spring, all arranged between the flange-plate andfollower of the piston-head, substantially as described. In testimonywhereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TOWVNSEND POORE.

Witnesses:

WM. A. VVILcoX, J NO. P. ALBRO.

